• Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) international reserves stood at US$102.8 billion as at May 15, 2019 from US$103.4 billion at April 30, 2019 • Tekun Nasional has channelled business financing worth RM140 million since the beginning of this year until April 30, 2019 • Malaysia's labour productivity grows 2.4 per cent in Q1 2019 • Malaysia's CPI rose 0.2 per cent in April 2019 to 121.1 compared to 120.9 in the same month of the preceding year: Department of Statistics Malaysia

Riding on big data application, the company said it intends to create a combination of AI and IoT ecosystem to produce products, services and platforms that are people-oriented, connecting homes and social systems.

It currently offers IoT-applicable flagship models for air conditioners and air purifiers, and further expansion will see it launching small and beauty appliances in the near future, the company said in a statement.

The company is also looking at research and development (R&D), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and talent cultivation as it pushes forward its 8K ecosystem, said Sharp Electronics Malaysia Sdn Bhd MD Robert Wu in the same statement.

Sharp has been a major innovator in the LED television (TV) technology, particularly in the high-definition 8K segment. However, the company said its direction in the segment goes beyond TV panel as it works to create and develop an 8K ecosystem through partnerships with related parties to build up a series of value chain in 8K solution.

It added that the strategy will see Sharp’s imprint in various fields, particularly in industrials, security, medical, education, entertainment and broadcasting.